Two charged in Dover child abuse case: Police say pair taped girl's hands to wall, denied her food for more than a day at a time

Thursday

Dec 20, 2012 at 3:15 AM

By Michelle Kingstonmkingston@fosters.com

DOVER — After police responded to a disturbance at 149 Portland Ave. at an apartment in the Royal Oak complex late last month they discovered a more alarming issue — injuries on a young child.

There were no charges in relation to the disturbance on Nov. 26, but according to Lt. Brant Dolleman, a child under the age of 13, appeared to have suffered bodily injury sometime prior to the disturbance.

“It could have been days before or months before,” Dolleman said.

Police arranged to have the child checked out and as a result, found that the child, identified by WMUR-TV as a girl, had been denied food for over a day at a time and had her hands taped up to the wall for an unknown amount of time.

The mother of the child, Cheryll Morgan, 22, and Steven Smith, 24, no longer have contact with the child.

Morgan and Smith turned themselves in after warrants were issued for their arrests.

Morgan was charged with simple assault for allegedly striking the girl and endangering welfare of a child for denying the child food. Both crimes are Class A misdemeanors.

Smith was charged with a Class B felony count of second-degree assault for allegedly causing bodily injury to the child, and two Class A misdemeanors of endangering the welfare of a child for allegedly denying the child food and false imprisonment for reportedly taping the girl's hands to the wall.

Both adults have been released on bail, and according to Dolleman, were never held in jail.

The investigation is being reviewed by the Strafford County Attorney's Office, which will be assisting in the charging decision and prosecuting the case.

Dolleman said it is possible more charges could be forthcoming.

Morgan was arraigned on Dec. 14 and pleaded not guilty to her charges.

Smith is scheduled to be arraigned in Dover District Court at 8:30 a.m. Friday.